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Megatherium and Glyptodon
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Megatherium and Glyptodon
Sheet 5 of a series of posters by Waterhouse Hawkins c. 1862 showing Megatherium and Glyptodon. Date: circa 1862
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Media ID 14237844
© Mary Evans / Natural History Museum
1807 1889 Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins Cingulata Crystal Palace Eutheria Extinct Giant Ground Sloth Glyptodon Glyptodont Habitat Hawkins Mammalia Megathere Megatheriidae Megatherium Pilosa Placental Mammal Theria Waterhouse Hawkins Wildlife Xenarthra Glyptodontidae
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This image is taken from Sheet 5 of a series of posters created by the renowned English sculptor, Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins, circa 1862. The poster showcases two extinct mammals of the Cingulata order, the Megatherium and the Glyptodon. Both animals were native to South America during the Pleistocene epoch and are part of the Xenarthra group, which includes modern-day sloths, anteaters, and armadillos. Megatherium, the Great Beast, is depicted as a giant ground sloth, with a body length of up to 10 meters and weighing around 6 tons. Its massive size and slow movements made it an awe-inspiring creature of its time. The Megatherium's fur-covered body is adorned with sharp claws, perfect for climbing trees and digging burrows. In contrast, the Glyptodon, a glyptodontid armored mammal, is shown with a massive, armor-plated back and a small, turtle-like head. The Glyptodon's armor protected it from predators, allowing it to roam the open grasslands of South America during the daytime hours. This illustration was created for the Crystal Palace Exhibition in London, which took place between 1851 and 1854. Waterhouse Hawkins' sculptures were displayed outside the palace, bringing the wonders of the natural world to the Victorian public. The artist's meticulous attention to detail and scientific accuracy make this image a fascinating glimpse into the history of paleontology and wildlife illustration.
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